Customer Reviews

The Kadin

5 star:		(62)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

For those of you expecting a typical sizzling Bertrice Small romance, be prepared to get something different. I actually found myself checking the cover again and again to make sure this was the same Bertrice Small. There are virtually no [adult] scenes in this book, but the story is so compelling and wonderfully written that it doesn't need them. This is the amazing story of Janet aka Cyra Leslie, a young Scottish girl kidnapped and purchased for a Selim, future Turkish sultan. Even though this is not the life she would have chosen, she quickly adapts and is determined to make her life with Selim as pleasant as possible. She forms a lasting bond with her fellow wives and finds herself madly in love with Selim. This isn't a fairy tale romance. Cyra has to share Selim with other women, and their life is repeatedly marred by violence and tragedy. Her rise to power is fascinating, and all of the relationships in the book ring true. The book is well-grounded in historical research, and the book reads like a true story. Enjoy!

Janet Leslie is a young Scottish girl who travels with her brother and widowed father to a small Mediterranean duchy where her father will serve as ambassador to Scotland. One day she is betrayed and kidnapped only to be sold is the slave markets of the East. She arrives in Ottoman ruled Turkey and meets 2 other young woman who will be embroiled in a plot with her. Their role will be to become the favorites of the current sultan's beloved son Selim. Janet, now named Cyra, makes a vow with the 2 other women Firousi and Zulieka that they will remain true to each other and survive their ordeal. This book tells the unforgetable tale of a remarkable woman who must learn to live in a culture completely foreign to her own, a woman who falls in love with Selim and remains true to her friends, a woman who would be mother to one of Turkey's greatest sultans, Suleiman the Magnificent.

This is a great epic novel. The story of Janet Leslie from youth to death. I am giving it three stars because it is not what I expect from a romance novel. I must worn anyone who is a romance novel reader that this is one sad story. I cried all the way through the last 100 pages and even in some of the earlier ones. Romance is a very minor part of this story and none of the sex scenes were described in any detail - they just happened. I cannot really recommend this book unless you can stand the pain of the story. Some may see it as one woman's triumph over whatever life threw at her, but it was more than I could handle. I don't mind some unpleasant moments in a romance novel, but for the most part of want to be happy when I close the book. I'm sure it's going to take me a long time to get over this novel. Hopefully, I can find other romance novels to read that will uplift my spirits. Some may love this book, as is obvious from other reviews, but I for one wish I had been warned about its content. Beatrice Small is a great writer and her sense of history is fantastic, but I am a romance novel reader not a history buff, and I do hate to be left with a great feeling of sadness when I am finished reading. BE FORWARNED.

Although, the idea of life in a harem really threw me off. I became glad that I find it hard to stop a book once I've started it. Despite, my initial reaction. This book had some incredibly touching moments. And yes. It did lose a bit of it's value When Cyra returned to her homeland but even then she did so with style. It showed the spirited woman she was and always would be.

This book showed that people can adapt to anything. And do it gracefully. True it would have been different if she had gone into her situation (living in a harem) purposely. But she didn't. What she did was take a situation that could have turned really bad really fast and made it more than tolerable. She made it a joy. Cyra has style. And Selim is depicted as a man more than a Sultan which is marvelous. I've read this book several times over and I'd reccommend it to anyone. Cyra personifies a woman in complete control of her life. Even when things seem to be crashing down around her. The only draw back is of course that her son didn't grow up to be the ma wwe'd hoped and that The so many of the sons of Selim died. Accurate of the way history was perhaps. But a let down that someone as resourceful as Cyra and the other wives couldn't find a better way.

I loved... abolutely LOVED this book. I first got it from a woman giving away a lot of her books due to moving and I read it until it fell apart. Then I bought another copy, which will likely also need replacing soon. Whenever I need a good dose of pick-me-up, I head straight for Ms. Small... usually to The Kadin. Lady Janet Leslie-turned-Cyra (Hafise) is a woman for women to be proud of -- a worthy heroine! Since I only objected to a tiny scene near the very end of the book, I could not remove even one star for trivialities such as that... but it was my own personal hang-up on the personality and identity of Cyra that the way her old friend Colin treated her near the end of the book should not have been tolerated, considering who she was - both the most powerful and beloved woman in the Ottoman Empire, and the strong-willed, not-to-be-trifled-with woman that she was. I don't care if she was past fifty by then; the Cyra I know should have had him killed for such presumption. I would have, if I were her... never doubt it! However, I may be more upset about that one small scene than necessary, considering Cyra is my hero, but what a worthy hero she is! Set in the fascinating world of a Turkish harem at a young age, Cyra is transformed from an impetuous child to a beloved and sweet, yet powerful woman. The nature of the harem life necessitated that she be ruthless when it was called for; and she had the strength of character to never shirk what needed to be done and the wisdom to know how and when to act in order to be in control of her own life. Though she lived in a harem, she was NEVER a slave or a victim, as harem life is usually portrayed -- indeed, she and her 'sisters' (Sultan Selim's other wives) made harem life seem very appealing. The four women shared a husband but there was never any jealousy or anger between them - they loved each other and each other's children more than anything. This story was touching and beautiful, the plot engrossing, the characters endearing and the setting fascinating. It made me extremely interested in Turkish history and harem life in that time period. This was one book that I most certainly would have loved to live in, had I the chance. I urge anyone to not pass it up. I have since read every Bertrice Small book that I could get my hands on, but "The Kadin" and Cyra still hold my heart, followed only closely by Cyra's descendant, Catriona, in "Love Wild and Fair," who most certainly has Janet Leslie's spirit - though staying mostly in Europe. What I love about Ms. Small is her attention to detail and being able to make wonderful pictures with her words. I know what Cyra's clothes looked like, her rooms, her jewelry, and of course her face. I enjoyed that aspect so much that to this day, it is difficult for me to enjoy a book unless I can picture every scene down to the last detail, and unlike many other authors, Ms. Small's detailing is never boring or used as a page-filler, but it's descriptive and fascinating - an integral part of the story. Another thing I like about Ms. Small's writing is the fact that she makes it possible for the heroines to fall in love over and over again - loving each person differently. She never makes it seem that if one got separated from her lover, her life was over and she could never love again - that there is only ONE person on earth for anyone to love and if they're gone or have been separated, there is nothing to be done but curl up and die. She rarely ends her books with the herione ending up with her first ["and only"] love, and if she does, she usually makes it so that there is another love in-between that the heroine may love differently, but loves all the same. I like that, because the Jack-and-Jill-Forever scenario rarely works out in real life. People may lose each other, but life and love go on. That is the feeling that I get from reading Bertrice Small, and even though "The Kadin" doesn't follow the usual format, it remains my favorite through the beauty of the setting, the heartwarming tale of romance and friendship and most of all the strength of character of the woman.

Scottish born Janet is the daughter of the ambassador to a small island. While sailing with her slave, they run into a slaver ship and the slave sells her. She is taken to Constantinople, where she is sold to the highest bidder -- and that bidder is the agha kislar of the Sultan of Turkey. He takes her the harem, where she is chosen, along with five others, for the sultan's third son. On the shores of Magnesia, Selim and Janet, now called Cyra, fall in love. Cyra befriends the other girls in her lord's harem and they become united in their friendship. They back their lord through his governship of Magnesia and his fight for the sultanate. Through it all Cyra is Selim's soulmate. This book paints a very different picture of Sultan Selim I, usually called the Grim. It shows his love for his wives and children, his sense of fairness of the law, and the truth of his father's abidcation of the throne. Bertrice Small researched her facts quite clearly. A must read for anybody interested in Turkish history.

I started reading books by Bertice Small years, and years ago. This, I believe was the first book that got the ball rolling for me. Ms. Small has a unique ability to transport the reader. The characters come alive, the brutality, sensuality, and excitment is continuous. This book deals with the Saga of Lady Janet Leslie, who was kidnapped and sold into slavery. From this Saga, which follows love, lust, intrique, etc. Ms. Small follows through with other books, i.e. Skye O'Malley Series. These historical romances are loaded with information on historical England, France, and the Middle East (or Eastern) lands. You can follow along from one generation to another and see how each tie into the lives of the decendents. Ms. Small has written various legacies which overlap into other novels, Janet Leslie's father the Earl of Glenkirk (Patrick) was again introduced in "Until You". i.e. Rosamund's continuing story. I have found them all to be very enjoyable. I'm now beginning "Philippa", the story of Rosamund's eldest daughter, I hope it's as entertaining as all the other books. I might add, I have often re-read Ms. Small's books when I needed a break from my own reality. Thank you Ms. Small for opening my eyes to history, love and hope. I always look for your work, I know I will be entertained. Thank you, again.

I found this book to be a perfect blend of history and romance. While I agree that the idea of a 13 year old girl being sold into slavery is completely repulsive by today's standards it wasn't uncommon for girls this age to be married and expecting thier first child back in the era that the book is set in. I thought the characters were well thought out, the women were strong and intellegent and in fact the relationship between the four main women in the harem very well may have overshadowed the romance between Cyra an Selim. If you aren't much into history this book is probably not what you'd want to pluck from the shelves first, however if you like a well written story with lots of good history, definately pick this one.

This was the first Bertrice Small book I ever read and has remained my favorite over the years. This book complete transports you into it's fantasy world and I frequently re-read it whenever I need an escape. I can laugh out loud at various things I read, but this is the only book that can make me cry. I recommend it to every historical romance book fan.

At first when I read this, I couldn't grasp the concept of four women sharing a male without sniping and backbiting, either. Then I read it again. And again. And I learned that in other cultures and other time periods, it wasn't only possible but most likely happened. All of the characters are strong and well-developed without being whiny or weak. I loved how the friendships of all of the women evolved, making it a "chick story" in a funny little way. Selim was a strong man without being overbearing, and Besma was a perfect synonym for evil - the plots that woman came up with! Perhaps it's funny that this book contains the least descriptions of graphic sex out of all of Small's novels - I went specifically searching one day to try and find them and came up with very little. I can imagine the treatment it would be given today if Small were to redo it. (And I pray that never, ever happens.)

Start with the first and the best here. There's nothing else like it. A true classic romance of the 70's, and beyond.